====== How to program a PIC16F87x or PIC18F452 ======

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the term **programming** is used in this context for burning a hex file onto the chip. \\
See [[what_is_a_midibox]] if you don't know the difference between MIOS, the bootstrap loader and a MIOS Application.


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For the MIDIbox project it is **not** required to purchase an expensive, "ready-made" programmer in order to get the firmware into the PIC. 

Instead you could buy a pre-programmed PIC from SmashTV or Mike, you could ask in the [[http://forum.midibox.org|MIDIbox Forum]] for help, or you could build a PIC programmer by yourself. There are many schematics available on the web. The [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_burner.html|MBHP_BURNER]] module is one of such DIY programmers, and it works reliable.

**For PIC18F based projects, a PIC programmer is only required to program the MIOS bootloader firmware into the internal flash memory. Once this has been made, you can upload MIOS and applications via MIDI.** Details about this process are explained [[http://www.ucapps.de/mios_bootstrap.html|here]].

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If you want to burn yourself, you need to build the PIC Burner:
  * [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_burner.html|PIC Burner]] <sup>uCApps</sup>
If you have to burn PIC16 Chips, see [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_iic_midi.html]] for a description of a PIC18->PIC16 Adapter for PIC Burner.

You need __PBrenner for the PIC16__ and __P18 for PIC18's__. Both chips can be burned using the PIC Burner Module.



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I experienced massive problems by using 2 9V Batteries (steady loss of Voltage, though I used fresh Batteries). 15V Power Adaptors are hard to find, and if you find some, they're quite expensive.
So I checked all my 12V-Power Modules and finally found one that produces > 18 V. //It is worth trying and measuring all Power Adaptors you have, because some of them produce actually more Volts than said on the packaging// :)